Breath of Life

Harry Potter stared out the window of his tiny bedroom in Number four Privet Drive that overlooked the front garden.

Of course it was kind of hard to see outside because of the bars on his window, which his Uncle Vernon had put on before second year.

Harry sighed and turned away, looking around his dismal room, which consisted of faded green wallpaper, a rickety desk and a lamp that sat atop it, his wardrobe which had many drawings covering it, along with his bed, which had a threadbare, pale yellow cover on it.

Harry kneeled down on the hard wooden floor, and pried up a loose board close to his bed.

Inside were his most treasured belongings that he owned.

He pulled out his wand, which he had managed to grab before Uncle Vernon took his trunk and locked it in the cupboard.

Setting it aside he took out the photo album, which was filled with pictures of his parents, and his invisibility cloak that had belonged to his father.

Underneath his cloak, was a brown, leather bound journal.

Grabbing the journal, he put the album, cloak, and wand backs inside, and put the loose board back into place.

Hermione had given it to him for Christmas second year,

Standing, he turned around and pulled out the chair, sitting down at the desk and looked for a pen underneath all his drawings, and letters.

Finding one, he opened up his journal to the last entry.

June 28, 1995

It's been four days since Cedric was killed. Four days since Voldemort returned. Four days since I escaped from the graveyard. I should be sleeping right now, but I cant. Every time I close my eyes I see HIM, rising from the cauldron. I see Cedric's lifeless eyes staring up accusingly at me. Hermione and Ron try to tell me that it's not my fault, but I know it is. I let Cedric take the cup with me. I did nothing to stop the killing curse from hitting him. Some savior I am.

Harry closed his eyes; he didn't want to think about any of that right now. It already haunted his dreams; he wasn't going to let it haunt him while awake.

July 27, 1995

Haven't heard from Ron, Hermione, or Sirius all summer. There hasn't been any unusual news lately, but I wouldn't really know seeing as no one has contacted me. I would write them, but I left Hedwig with the Wesley's. The Dursley's are still horrible. I sometimes scream out in my sleep due to nightmares of the graveyard, and Uncle Vernon hates being woken up from his sleep. I've tried to stifle it, but sometimes I can't help it, but not like he cares.

"Boy, get down here!"

Harry sighed as he heard his Aunt call and closed his journal, making sure to hide it underneath his pillow before he went downstairs to see what she wanted.

"Yes Aunt Petunia?" He asked coming and standing in front of her in the kitchen

She scowled when she saw him and thrust a piece of paper out in front of his face

Harry reached out taking it, and looked it over

Weed Flower BedClean out shedMow the lawnWater GardenPrepare Dinner

"Those are your chores for today. I am going out to the store, and those better be done by the time either Vernon or I come home."

Harry nodded his head

"Yes Aunt Petunia."

"Well get to it then!" She said walking out

He heard the door shut, and a bit later he heard the car start and drive off

Sighing, Harry walked outside, putting the list into his pocket of his baggy pants; glad he wore his worst clothes today.

Walking over to the shed, he grabbed a garbage sack and walked back over to the flowerbed.

Kneeling down he started plucking the weeds out, and tossing them into the sack.

After a while, he stood up and walked over to the shed and started cleaning it out, sweeping up dirt and leaves that had blown in there.

By the time that was done, Harry was sweating profusely, and desperately wanted to take a break over in the shade, but knew he still had chores to do.

So it was with much reluctance that he started up the mower.

He had finished half of the lawn, when Dudley and his gang showed up.

"Hey freak!" Dudley said walking up to him

Harry ignored him and continued

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Dudley shouted while his gang stood behind him snickering

"Go away." Harry said

"What's the matter, freak? Are you scared?" Dudley said sneering

Harry grit his teeth

"Of a fat lump like you?" Harry mumbled

"What was that?" Dudley said eyes narrowing

Harry turned around and glared at him

"I said I'm not scared of a fat lump like you!" Harry snarled

Dudley punched him in the stomach, hard.

Harry bent over gasping, as the air was knocked from him

He felt Dudley grab him by the front of his shirt, and pull him up by his face

"Really freak? What are you scared of then? Your pillow? You wake up every night, screaming. 'Don't hurt Cedric!' Who's Cedric?" Dudley smirked, as Harry turned red

Dudley let Harry go making him stumble, and fall onto the mower.

"No, mummy, help me! Help me mummy!" Dudley mocked while Harry sat there glaring up at them

"Where is your mum Potter? She dead? She dead!" He taunted, him and his gang snickering as Harry grew madder, and madder

He stood up, fists clenched

"Shut up!" He snarled

"Or what?" Dudley said crossing his arms

"What are you going to do? Go cry into your pillow?"

Harry had, had enough, and before he knew what he was doing, he drew back, and slammed his fist into Dudley's face, making the large boy stumble back and yell in surprise

Dudley put a hand on his nose, and looked at it, eyes widening as he saw it was bleeding

He looked at Harry, who was staring back in fear, but had a small smirk on his face

Dudley clenched his fist

"You better run Potter."

Harry took off, running as fast as he could, while Dudley and his gang ran after him

"You're going to pay for this freak!" Dudley shouted

Harry kept running, but he was growing tired, all he had, had the past weeks was bread, soup and water.

He jumped over the park fence, and ran towards the woods, knowing that if he made it in there he would be safe

Before he could reach the woods, his foot caught on a tree root making him trip and fall

Harry was just about to stand up when one of the faster boys in the group caught up and pinned him down

"Hey big D over here!" He called out

Harry struggled to get up,

"Get off!" He yelled twisting and turning, but the boy held him down

Harry felt himself be turned over and gasped in pain as a fist connected with him

"Doesn't fell good does it freak?" Dudley said sneering at him

Harry tried to get up, but was shoved down

"I don't think so freak. Come on guys, lets teach him a lesson!"

Harry tried to escape as the fists and kicks descended on him, but it was hopeless.

Curling into a ball, he tried to cover his head and make himself as small as possible.

After a while, Dudley and his gang grew bored and with one final kick from Dudley they walked off to go pick on another kid.

Harry lied there, before forcing himself to push up, and hobble back to Number Four.

He cursed when he saw his Aunts car in the drive, knowing he hadn't finished the yard or started dinner.

Harry saw his Aunt standing at the back porch, a fierce scowl on her face and Harry winced knowing it was not going to be a good night.

"Hello Aunt Petunia." He said quietly

"What have you been doing?" She shrieked

"I assign you a few chores, and you decided to go run off! Explain boy!"

"I was doing my chores, when Dudley came up, and started taunting me!" Harry said and instantly knew it was the wrong thing to say

"Oh so its all Dudley fault is it? Well you can explain it to your Uncle once he comes home. Now get inside and make dinner." She spat looking at him in disgust

"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry said walking inside

He got out pots and pans, and turned on the stove.

Pulling out the steaks he unwrapped them, and put them into the pan.

He sprinkled some seasoning onto them, and then flipped them over, sprinkling seasoning onto that side.

Then he put the pan on the stove, and walked over to the fridge to pull out the can of corn, and carrots.

Opening the corn he poured them into the pot, and placed it over the stove.

Harry did the same to the carrots, and then he walked over to the table and started setting it.

He poured Dudley a glass of soda, and Vernon and Petunia their favorite wine.

He took the pots off the stove, and scooped some corn, and steamed carrots onto each plate.

Next he turned off the stove and placed a piece of steak onto each plate.

Placing the dishes in the sink, Harry tried to ignore the wonderful smells, and his growling stomach as he washed the pots and pans.

He had just finished washing the last pot when Aunt Petunia walked into the room, sneering at him

"Go, change and then come back down here. I will not have you stink up my house."

"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry said, heading up the stairs he grabbed clean clothes and hoped into the shower making sure to not have the water to warm, or his Aunt would be even more upset at him then she was.

He stepped out after two minutes, changed and then put on his glasses, and started cleaning up the bathroom.

Walking back downstairs Harry froze as he heard his Uncles car door slam, and then the big man himself walk through the door.

He hung his coat up, and then turned and scowled as he spotted Harry.

"Boy! Get down here this minute!" He said his pudgy face turning red

Harry quickly walked down the stairs and hurried over to his Uncle, stopping just out of arms length.

"Care to explain why the lawn is only half mowed, and why the mower is just sitting out there on display!"

Harry was about to respond when Petunia walked in, arms crossed and glared at Harry

"Vernon, today before I left I assigned the boy some simple chores, one of them being to mow the lawn. When I got home I found the lawn just like it is now. Then the boy came back all dirty, from wherever he had run off to, and tried to blame Dudley for his behavior!"

"You what!"

Harry cringed as his Uncle turned to him, face purple and angry glint in his eyes

"Dudley was taunting me! Then him and his gang started to pound on me!"

Harry fell silent when Uncle Vernon reached out and slapped him hard across the face

"Don't you dare blame Dudley, if anything you can thank him for trying to keep you in line!"

Harry kept his head bowed as his Uncle started yelling at him, only to look up whenever the door opened and he heard his Aunt gasp in horror

Standing there, was Dudley, bruised nose, and dried blood on his shirt and face.

"My poor Diddykins! What happened?" His Aunt said running over and hugging him

"Who did this to you son?" Vernon asked

Dudley pointed to where Harry was standing, and he cringed, knowing what was to follow…

"You did this? You did this!" Aunt Petunia shrieked

Uncle Vernon grabbed him by the shoulder, digging his fingers into his skin and started shaking him

"What did you do boy!" He yelled, spit flying onto Harry's pale, face

"I-I didn't mean to!"

He yelled in surprise as his Uncles fist connected with his face making him fall back into the wall

"How dare you touch my son!" Vernon snarled

"Come on Dudley, let's get you cleaned up."

Harry watched his Aunt and cousin leave the room, and looked at his Uncle in fear as he started to take off his belt

"You've had this coming for a long time now freak. Now stand up, and put your hands against the wall. NOW!" Vernon yelled making Harry jump

He quickly did as he was told, and prepared himself for the pain.

This was the second time his Uncle had used the belt on him. The first time was when he was seven and he used magic to transport him to the roof.

Harry was brought from his thoughts, when the belt connected with his back making him bit his lip to keep from shouting.

"Take off your shirt boy!" His Uncle yelled

Harry did, even more scared, this hadn't happened before

He gasped when the leather cracked against his skin; it hurt a lot more without the fabric there to protect from some of the blows.

Harry bit his lip drawing blood as his Uncle continued to hit him many more times, till he could barely stand.

On the last strike, Harry collapsed, his shaky knees giving out

"Get up boy!" Vernon said grabbing him by the neck and dragging him up

Harry moaned, and let himself be dragged over to the cupboard

"No, please…" He whimpered as his Uncle opened the small door and shoved him inside

"Shut up freak! Stay in here and don't make a sound, or else!" Vernon kicked his bruised and bleeding nephew and then slammed the door shut, just as Petunia and Dudley came downstairs.

Harry willed his body to fall unconscious, but sadly that didn't happen.

He was forced to lie there in pain, and listen to his relatives eat the food he had prepared and know that he wasn't going to get any.

After what seemed an eternity, his aunt came over and threw open the door, sneering down at him

"Get up, and go wash the dishes. You are to throw the leftovers into the trash, and believe me boy I will know if you steal any! Now get!" She turned and walked into the kitchen

Harry bit his already bruised lip as he pushed himself up, and stumbled into the kitchen

It took a lot longer than usual for him to wash and dry the dishes, and by the time he finished he could barely stand.

He hobbled back over to the cupboard, and felt his aunt push him inside and heard her lock the door.

"Maybe that'll teach you to not hurt Dudley again!" She hissed

Harry sighed hearing her walk away, and curled up into himself.

The last thing he saw before passing out was the small, messy drawing hanging on the door that read; Harry's Room